Boost or bust? A randomized crossover study on pre-exercise caffeine supplementation for fatigue management in
Marco Pernigoni1, Leonardo Cesanelli2, Lukas Šimkus3
1Department of Coaching Science, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania; Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|June 21, 2025
Summary
Pre-exercise caffeine intake did not significantly impact fatigue or recovery in amateur basketball players. Performance and recovery markers showed similar changes regardless of caffeine or placebo consumption.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutritional Supplementation
Background:
- Caffeine is a widely used ergogenic aid in sports.
- Its effects on fatigue and recovery in team sports like basketball require further investigation.
- Amateur athletes may respond differently to supplementation compared to professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of pre-exercise caffeine intake on fatigue and recovery in amateur male basketball players.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of caffeine supplementation on performance and physiological recovery markers.
- To compare caffeine's effects against a placebo during basketball-specific training.
Main Methods:
- Randomized crossover design involving 14 amateur male basketball players.
- Participants completed two training sessions, one preceded by caffeine (3 mg/kg) and the other by a placebo.
- Measures included jump height, sprint times, heart rate variability (Ln-rMSSD), muscle soreness, and perceived fatigue, assessed pre-, post-, and 24h-post-training.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed between caffeine and placebo conditions for any measured variable.
- Performance decrements (jump height, sprint times) and increased fatigue/soreness occurred post-training in both groups.
- Physiological markers like Ln-rMSSD also declined post-training, with no caffeine-induced mitigation.
Conclusions:
- Pre-exercise caffeine intake at 3 mg/kg did not significantly alter fatigue or recovery markers in amateur basketball players.
- Basketball-specific training induced significant fatigue and performance decrements irrespective of caffeine supplementation.
- Further research may explore different dosages or populations to clarify caffeine's role in basketball.
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